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Navidrome vs Spotify

Navidrome scores 26 out of 30 and Spotify scores 14. Navidrome is ahead on footprint, lock-in, self-direction, power and longevity. Spotify is ahead on delivery.

Navidrome

The small tool

26/30 · Convivial

Your own music library, streamed to your phone from your server.

Spotify

The giant

14/30 · Mixed

The most used music streaming service, paid for by ads and subscriptions.

Footprint
4
2
Lock-in
5
1
Self-direction
5
2
Power
5
1
Longevity
4
3
Delivery
3
5
Price
Free
Free with ads, or paid
Source
Open source
Closed source
Runs on
Server, any device
Web, iOS, Android, desktop
Maker
S · Small
XL · Extra large

What you give up by switching

Navidrome streams music you already own from your own server. There is no catalogue to browse and you have to run the server, so it suits people with a library, not people who rent one.

How to move

Point Navidrome at your music folder and use any Subsonic-compatible app on your phone.

Scores are our opinion on six questions from Ivan Illich, based on public sources and dated October 2026. Read the full reviews of Navidrome and Spotify, or see how we score.

Visit Navidrome More tools for “play music i own”